Domestic robotics

Domestic robots, as the name suggests, are engineered to tackle household tasks and sometimes extend their services beyond the confines of home duties. While most might instantly picture a robotic vacuum cleaner when thinking of domestic robots, their spectrum of applications is vast.

Other domestic robots include:

• window cleaning robots: say goodbye to manual scrubbing and embrace the efficiency of these specialised robots
• pool cleaning robots: ensuring a clean swim isn’t just manual labour any more; robots can make pool maintenance hassle-free
• telepresence robots: an embodiment of the globalised world, these robots simulate physical presence and break geographical barriers.

Floor, window, and pool cleaning

Robotic vacuum cleaners have indeed transitioned from a luxury to a household norm. What makes them efficient? A mix of ‘intelligence’ and advanced sensors. By employing technologies like cameras, LiDAR, and bumpers for collision detection, these robots build a comprehensive map of a house, marking rooms and obstacles. This map helps these robots to both localise and move around within that map. This complex problem referred to as simultaneous localisation and mapping (SLAM) in robotics. Given the rising demand for these smart home gadgets, there’s a  demand for professionals skilled in robotics to drive further advancements.

Telepresence robots

In a world where remote collaboration is the norm for certain industries, telepresence robots have emerged as the next step in virtual communication. These robots, essentially, provide a more tangible presence compared to mere video conferencing, ensuring individuals can have an ‘on-ground’ presence even when miles away.

On my recent visit to Tokyo, I had the unique experience of dining at a café renowned not just for its coffee and food but its robotic staff. What stood out was the underlying purpose: these telepresence robots were operated remotely by staff with disabilities, offering them employment opportunities that might otherwise be inaccessible. Upon entering, I was greeted by a tablet, through which I could place my order. Moments later, a robot, showcasing the face of the remote operator (see the picture I captured above), rolled out from the kitchen, serving my order. Engaging in a chat with this robot was surreal – it was a heartening blend of technology and human spirit, a testament to how robots can reshape societal norms.

Domestic robots, far from being mere mechanical entities, are paving the way for enhanced convenience, efficiency, and inclusivity in our day-to-day lives, and it’s a promising area for robotics and automation.

In the next step, you will have the opportunity to research and discuss some of the other exciting areas of robotics.